What if a tornado hits here?

A tornado can strike anywhere at any time and Central Florida is far from immune. The Orlando area has been the scene of natural disasters in the past and should history repeat itself, it’s best to be prepared.

On Christmas Day 2006, three twisters destroyed homes in Central Florida and were followed six weeks later by a series of tornadoes that struck in the middle of the night and left 21 people dead.

Nearly a decade earlier in February 1998, seven tornadoes struck the area and killed 42 people, seriously injured 250 more and left 3,000 buildings destroyed in their wake.

Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes are nearly impossible to predict and can strike with little to no warning. Should the weather take a turn for the worse, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of remaining safe.

Tornado watches and warnings should never be ignored. A watch indicates that there could be a tornado in the area, whereas a warning means a tornado has been spotted and could be coming your way.

If either is issued for your area, take shelter immediately in an interior room on the first floor away from windows. If you’re in your car with no safe buildings nearby, try to lie flat in a ditch and do not attempt to outrun the tornado; people in cars are at the most risk.

Note, too, that tornadoes are likely to occur during a hurricane and preparedness techniques for one storm hold true for the other.

Other than checking the radio and local TV news stations, there are a few ways you can tell a tornado is coming. Check the sky for quick-moving clouds or a greenish-black color, if the tornado is nearby you may hear a sound similar to a jet or train whistle and experience debris and hail falling from the sky or witness a funnel-shaped cloud.

For more information on how to remain safe during a storm, check out these useful links: